US dismisses Russian claims of bat bioweapons in Ukraine

Six Western countries said Friday that Russia uses the UN Security Council to disseminate disinformation and propaganda about its invasion of Ukraine.

A Russian-led council met at Ukraine's request to discuss its claims that the country is developing biological weapons.

A statement read out by the US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield was signed by the six members of the council and statement reads "Russia is once again attempting to use this council to launder its disinformation, spread its propaganda, and justify its unprovoked and brutal attack on Ukraine,"

French, Norwegian, Albanian, Irish and British representatives accompanied her.

At Russia's request, the council met last week on the same topic.

Several Western countries accused Moscow of spreading conspiracy theories after a Russian envoy told diplomats that the United States and Ukraine had researched using bats in biological warfare.

At Friday's meeting the United States reiterated that Ukraine has no biological weapons program.

Some critics believe the Russian claims are subterfuge for using such weapons themselves.

"We continue to believe it is possible that Russia may be planning to use chemical or biological agents against the Ukrainian people," added Thomas Greenfield.

As Russia repeated its claim that Ukraine has bioweapon labs, Western states said that Russia was an expert on chemical and biological weapons.

UN high representative for disarmament Izumi Nakamitsu said last week that his department does not know there is a biological weapons department in Ukraine or that it has a mandate to conduct an investigation.